Two missing as ships collide off south China coast

HAIKOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Two people are missing after a freighter and a passenger ship collided off the coast of south China's Guangdong Province early Thursday, according to authorities.

The freighter carrying steel plates, which was registered in Hainan Province, sank after colliding with a ship carrying more than 970 passengers and 140 vehicles at about 12:46 a.m. on Thursday, said the publicity department of Haikou, capital of Hainan Province.

Five people onboard of the freighter fell into the water. Three have been rescued but the other two remain missing.

The passenger ship docked safely at around 6 a.m.

Rescue work and an investigation into the cause of the collision are under way.